Warm-weather theater highlights begin early with Hartford Stage's first big musical since "A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder," followed by the national tour of "Matilda" stopping by the Shubert Theatre in New Haven before it hits the road. But that's just the beginning of a sizzling summer stage season.

>>"Kiss Me Kate," Hartford Stage (May 14 to June 14). Combining artistic director Darko Tresnjak's love of Shakespeare ("Hamlet," "Macbeth," the list goes on and on) and musicals (the guy won a Tony Award last June for you-know-what), it would seem that "Kiss Me Kate" would be a natural — especially since "The Taming of the Shrew" has always been a problematic work because of — ahem — certain feminist issues. But Cole Porter took a more joyous hand to the Bard's play by making it a backstage musical to which we can all say, "Wunderbar." Tickets are $25 to $80. Info: hartfordstage.org and 860-527-5151.

>>"Matilda" at the Shubert Theater in New Haven (May 16 to 23). The team for the national tour of the Broadway hit will prep for the road at New Haven's Shubert Theater and will have a "soft opening" in town before having its official bow in Los Angeles next month. Soft, hard or in-between, families should flock to the kid-friendly show based on the Roald Dahl classic children's book about a smart young girl in a world of (mostly) horrible adults. Kid power! Tickets are $25 to $135. Info: shubert.com and 203-562-5666.

>>"Les Misérables: A Musical Celebration" is Connecticut Repertory Theatre's Nutmeg Summer Series at the Harriet S. Jorgensen Theatre on the UConn campus in Storrs (May 28 to June 7). It's been quite a few years since Terrence Mann took on the role of that villainous obsessive Inspector Javert, but Mann — who has become a fave at the summer musical series — will again put on his dark cape for a specially staged concert production of the musical in which he will also direct. Now cue the revolutionaries. Tickets are $12 to $55/ information: crt.uconn.edu and 860-486-2113.

>>"Calendar Girls," Ivoryton Playhouse (June 3 to 21). The U.S. premiere of Tim Firth's U.K. hit based on his Miramax screenplay is rooted in a true story of members of a Yorkshire Women's Institute in England who decide to pose au natural for a charity calendar. Hello, Miss June. Tickets are $42. Info: ivorytonplayhouse.org and 860-767-7318.

Ves Pitts, International Festival of Arts & Ideas

Taylor Mac's "The 1990s" plays University Theatre in New Haven June 12 and 13 as part of the International Festival of Arts & Ideas. artidea.org and 203-498-3772

Taylor Mac's "The 1990s" plays University Theatre in New Haven June 12 and 13 as part of the International Festival of Arts & Ideas. artidea.org and 203-498-3772

(Ves Pitts, International Festival of Arts & Ideas)

>>"Hair" at Playhouse on the Park in West Hartford (June 10 to July 19). The folks at the Playhouse have cleverly chosen musicals that fit well into their raw, easy-to-morph space, whether it's "Cabaret," "Spelling Bee" or "Company." In that tradition, the American tribal love rock musical communes nicely with its funky environment — and its revolutionary rebels mesh well with the radicals of "Les Miz." A show that granny might have rocked on to — and the kids will relate to, too. Peace. Tickets are $15 to $35. Info: playhouseonpark.org and 860-523-5900 x10.

>>Taylor Mac's "The 1990s," University Theatre in New Haven (June 12 and 13). The International Festival of Arts & Ideas, celebrating its 20th anniversary, commissioned the much-admired performance artist to create a new work, which is part of his 24-Decade History of Popular Music, a subjective look at American songs of the past 240 years since 1776. How to describe Mac? Well, to see him is to know him, but maybe not. Best advice: check out numerous YouTube clips and you're certain to be mesmerized by the transformative artist. Tickets are $45 to $70. Info: artidea.org and 203-498-3772.

>>Kinky Boots at The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts in Hartford (June 23 to 28). An English shoe company on the decline in a blue-collar town decides to take a gamble by manufacturing sexy footwear for drag performers, so what could go wrong? A crowd-pleasing musical with music by (now Tony Award-winner) Cyndi Lauper, book by drag eminence Harvey Fierstein and choreographic pizzazz by Jerry Mitchell. Everybody say "Yeah." Tickets are $21 to $92. Information: bushnell.org and 860-987-5900.

>>Carmen de Lavallade's "As I Remember It," Yale Repertory Theatre in New Haven (June 25 and 27). As a dancer, actor, teacher, the 84-year-old Ms. de Lavallade has had quite a life on stage — and off. Connecticut folks still speak with awe of her Titania in Yale Rep's legendary '70s production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Her solo bio-show will now play the city where she spent some exciting years. We can't wait to hear those stories of Meryl, Geoffrey and frogs in the Yale Swimming Pool. Tickets are $45 to $70. Info: artidea.org and 203-498-3772.

>>"La Cage aux Folles" at Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam (June 26 to Sept. 6). With "Hello, Dolly!", "Mame" and "Mack and Mabel" previously on Goodspeed's main stage (and "Dear World" at its second theater) it was just a matter of time before Jerry Herman's other great musical made it to East Haddam. Rob Ruggiero, who has brought out the heart in so many great Goodspeed productions ("Show Boat," "Carousel," "Fiddler on the Roof," among them), directs the dragtacular production that will surely kick up its heels in more than one way. (We wonder if they get their shoes from "Kinky Boots"?) Tickets are $32.50 to $78.50. Info: goodspeed.org and 860-873-8668.

>>"I'll Eat You Last: A Chat With Sue Mengers" at TheaterWorks in Hartford (July 17 to Aug. 23). Most people don't know the powerhouse agent who ruled the "New Hollywood" era of the '60s to the early '80s with clients such as Barbara Streisand, Cher, Faye Dunaway, Ali MacGraw and Steve McQueen. Bette Midler starred in John Logan's solo bio-show on Broadway and though the role is not cast yet for the Hartford run, we expect nothing less than major Hollywood dish as not-so-sweet Sue talks about her rise and fall and recline (she spends most of the play laying on her Malibu couch). Tickets are $50 to $65. Info: theaterworkshartford.org and 860-527-7838.

>>"Love and Money," Westport Country Playhouse (July 21 to Aug. 8). A.R. Gurney's latest play will be presented at the theater prior to its off-Broadway run at Signature Theatre. The playhouse is calling it a "preview" run before NYC, so no critics, please. We don't think so. Because Connecticut has a proud history of out-of-town productions, we're' calling it just another show to review. And because it's by Gurney — and directed by Mark Lamos who knows the playwrights' work well — we suspect it will be interesting, funny, wise and perhaps quite wonderful. Tickets are $50 to $70. Info: westportplayhouse.org and 203-227-4177.

More On Tap

And then there are the collection of shows at The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's National Puppetry Conference (public shows June 12 and 13), the National Playwrights Conference (July 1 to 25), the Music Theater Conference (June 20 to July 10) and the Cabaret and Performance Conference (July 30 to Aug. 8). Info: theoneill.org and 860-443-5378,

And for outdoor theater fans there are quite a few al fresco productions, such as Capitol Classics Theatre Company — celebrating its 25th year — which will present "Romeo and Juliet" for three weekends (July 23 through Aug. 9), on the grounds of the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford. Tickets are $15. Info: CapitalClassics.org and 860- 231-5555.

And let's not forget the summer excursions to the Massachusetts Berkshires:

At the Chester Theatre Company, there's the East Coast premiere of "Discord: The Gospel According to Thomas Jefferson, Charles Dickens, and Count Leo Tolstoy" by Scott Carter (June 24 to July 5; chestertheater.org.), following its hit run at Los Angeles' Geffen Playhouse. Heading north at the Berkshire Theatre Festival in Stockbridge there's a co-production with New Neighborhood, the world premiere of "I Saw My Neighbor On the Train and I Didn't Even Smile," written by Suzanne Heathcote and directed by Jackson Gay (July 15 to Aug. 15; berkshiretheatregroup.org). At Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, there's "Henry V" starring Ryan Winkles (June 18 to Aug. 23, in rep; shakespeare.org). Barrington Stage in Pittsfield has Jeff McCarthy starring in the musical "Man of La Mancha" (June 10 to July 11; barringtonstage.org).

Finally at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, Mandy Greenfield begins her first season as artistic director with a line-up of premieres and starry classics too numerous to mention. OK, here's one: Audra McDonald, and husband Will Swenson starring in Eugene O'Neill's "A Moon for the Misbegotten," staged by Long Wharf's Gordon Edelstein (Aug. 5 to 23; wtfestival.org). But all these theaters have killer lineups so check out their complete schedule. Go for the mountains, stay for the art.

And one more event that has become a popular season-ender celebration: The Connecticut Critics Circle Awards, honoring the best of theater for the past season in the state — and this year part of the International Festival of Arts and Ideas. Festivities will be held at the Iseman Theatre in New Haven on June 22 with the free awards show starting at 7 p.m. "And the winner is..." ctcritics.org